An opening win in an impressive venue

1-14 to 3-04 12th March 2017 Vs. Inniscara

Earlier today, in the impressive Iniscara community playing grounds, that has no less than 3 GAA pitches, one rugby, one soccer, an all-weather pitch and a pitch & putt course, spread out over 70 acres, we defeated ours hosts in our inaugural game in the County Junior B hurling league.

Short a number of our panel through injury, we were numerically tight for players but
We went in search of a win and we got that on a final score of 1-14 to 3-04.

We had the opening point of the game from the impressive Eoghan Buckley before the 2nd point came courtesy of an Ian O Gorman free. Our youthful midfield of Eoghan and Charlie was particularly impressive in this opening 1st half and their mobility was an issue to our opponents.

Sean O Regan flashed over a point before a long range effort from Billy Norris registered another point for us. Iniscara scored a point from a free and this was answered by another impressive point by Eoghan. James Fitzpatrick then flashed a fine shot goal wards that eluded their keeper to put us in the ascendancy.

Ian O Gorman scored another free, before we had to rejig our full back line after Pa Sheehan had to be withdrawn with a calf injury. Tom O Regan was rewarded for his determined play with a point, before Joshua Sheehan picked up the sliotar quickly in a crowded area and shot over the bar.

Iniscara got a point back through their full forward but we ended the 1st half with points from Sean O Regan and Ian O Gorman, to leave the half time score of 1-10 to 0-02.

On the changeover, Iniscara got a goal back quickly when a goal mouth scramble was forced over the line but the newly introduced Tommy Cremin scored a nice point from a free. Tommy was introduced for the injured Kevin Fox, who went over on his ankle, on the heavy pitch.

Iniscara scored another goal, and suddenly the margin of ascendancy was a lot more perilous. What was very deceptive according to the players afterwards, was the strength of the breeze out on the field, under the hedge; the spectators thought it was of little significance.

Dave Brosnan stemmed the Iniscara fight back with a point before Iniscara got another goal from a scramble and we began to look vulnerable. Tommy earned us another free after determined play, but his effort at the posts sailed wide, when we needed a score. Sean O Regan got that point, Iniscara had the margin back to 3 again with another pointed free, but we rallied, with James Fitzpatrick, and Patrick Angland impressing and the final score of the game was a free from our selector / cum corner former / cum free taker Tommy to push out the final margin to 4 points. 1-14 to 3-04.

The selectors would have been pleased with the win, but concerned with the concession of those scrambled goals, but it is hard to hurl on a heavy pitch, with long grass, but it would be unfair to criticise our hosts, in their home patch. All pitches this time of the year are heavy.

So loads to work on, but good to start with a win. Our midfielders tired in the 2nd half, but to be fair, this was their 2nd game in midfield in 24 hours after the Under 21 championship game the day before. Some young players particularly shone.